Fred Rosen
Longtime owner of Sam's Wines and Spirits | 71 | Gold Coast
Fred Rosen, son of Sam's Wines and Spirits founder Sam Rosen, was the longtime owner of the renowned stores until he sold his stake earlier this year. He stayed on as a consultant. Rosen, who earned 10 varsity letters at Roosevelt High, still frequents the basketball courts at the East Bank Club, where he rubs -- and trades -- elbows with politicians.
Having played basketball with Alexi Giannoulias, Todd Stroger, Dick Devine and Barack Obama here at the club . . . I've always equated their basketball personality with their political leadership.
Barack Obama comes down the court with a vision and sees all the players and draws them all into the game.
Dick Devine is not very big, but he's very strong and very tough. He gets his mind set on something and gets it done with. He's no guy to trifle with on the basketball court. He's tough as nails. And he runs his office the same way.
Todd Stroger -- he's small for basketball. It's very difficult for him to play as a star, but he does a great job and he's always improving. He loves the game and he's just a plain nice fella on the basketball court.
Alexi is an old pro. He played ball in Greece. He's really tough and strong and he's a great athlete. He's doing a great job as state treasurer, and his abilities show on the basketball court. He can take charge of a team and run the whole show.
Jesse White, I personally made him all-city. He scored 30 points off me in 1952 when he played for Waller. He is an exciting player and really a smart guy.
I'm just a broken-down old basketball player that's played with everybody who has played basketball from the turn of the century on. I ran my business like I play ball -- I just hang in there. My father started in the alcohol business in about 1942 or '43. He died before the real big growth. But he always made a living. And when you're an immigrant from [Ukraine], the streets are paved with gold. . . . His best saying was, "There's a lot of complaining about America, but all of the boats are filled coming this way."
Right now, the hot beer is Fat Tire from Colorado. But the best selling beers [in Chicago] are still Miller and Bud, depending how cheaply they're sold. Goose Island in Chicago does very well.
Now, a lot of Australian wines are becoming very popular. The chardonnays and the shirazes. And California is still hot. I think French slowed down a little bit with the collectors.
We're opening a new store, Wabash and Roosevelt Road, hopefully in the middle of November. [A Binny's Beverage Depot that is planned for nearby] isn't open yet either. There's enough business for everybody.
[The South Loop building boom] is a miracle. It's a credit to the city.
I lot of guys say I look a little bit like Dick Devine.